As a native New Yorker, I’ve been riding the subway regularly since kindergarten. The subway is great in many ways. It is the cheapest, fastest, and most efficient way to navigate the city. There are however 4.3 million other people riding the train every day, and some of them make riding the subway less than idyllic.
1. When people lean against the poles
Sure, lean against the entire pole, so no one else can hold onto it too.
2. When people enter the train car before letting others off the train.
Everyone knows (except tourists) that you have to let the people off the train first before you get on. Conductors say this every single day over the intercom. But still, for some people, it just never sinks in.
3. When the local train goes express, and when the express train goes local.
Why does this even happen?
4. Eating on the train.
It stinks up the whole car and people spill. It’s nasty, but not as nasty as…
5. Clipping your nails on the train.
Yes, this actually happens, and it should be criminalized.
6. Announcements you can’t understand.
What did the conductor just say?
7. Man-spreading.
It’s a big enough annoyance that the MTA had to make a poster about it. Nobody’s balls are that big.
8. Break Dancing
Impressive, yes. Dangerous, also yes. I’ve personally been kicked in the shoulder by one of these people.
9. Loud music listeners.
We all listen to our music while riding the train. Doesn’t mean we want to listen to our neighbor’s music too.
10. When someone falls asleep on you.
AWKWARD.
11. When the train has to skip stops after delays.
And it’s always your stop that it skips, and it’s always when you’re in a rush.
12. Bikes on the train.
Here’s an idea: ride the bike home.
13. Coughing and sneezing.
If you’ve got the Bubonic plague, please do humanity a favor and stay home. There are enough germs on the subway already.
14. Putting your bag on the seat next to you.
So let’s get this straight, I have to stand because your pocketbook needs to rest?
15. Backpacks the size of parachutes.
An extra person could stand in the space where your backpack is.
16. Making out
Get a room.
